A SEA OF GLASS LIKE UNTO CRYSTAL

In this sea we are being presented with approach to and accept­ability before God. The phrase, ‘before the throne’, brings that into focus. It sets out the basis upon which we can draw near and stand before God Himself. This sea, which is before the throne and upon which we must come to approach God, is said to be ‘a sea of glass like unto crystal’.

The crystal conveys to our minds the unassailable holiness of God. The imagery is that of a shimmering and glistering, wave-less sea or sheet of solid ice. The whole is seen as a huge transparent jewel alive with all its lights and perfections. Did not the first created beings fly ceaselessly before Him saying ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts’, and thus declared Him to be unapproachable?

We must beware of compromising the holiness of God by even suggesting that we can approach Him by our own efforts and righteousness. To stand here we need a righteousness that we haven’t got and can never attain to. Isaiah has it right when he declared that, ‘we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags’, Isa. 64. 6.

Later, John sees a company of persons standing on this sea, 15. 2, and it is clearly evident that they attribute their place there to God’s work and worthiness alone. They claim no merit in themselves although they have paid the highest price in martyr­dom for their faith. John indicates that there is the appearance of fire in the glass, fire that precludes any possible defilement, for its activities mark out the incessant judicial acts of a God who maintains holiness in His sanctuary.

How our hearts rise today and each day to bless God for the young Lamb, freshly slain, whose blood secures for us an eternal shelter and place on the ‘sea before the throne’. He gives unto His sheep eternal life and they will never perish, once in His hands their security is undoubted. We rise to bless the Man of Calvary, adore with full hearts and, in this sea, we are being presented with approach and acceptability before God, waiting the moment of rapture to stand before that glorious throne and proclaim, ‘Worthy is the Lamb’.